How can Sydney’s public transport meet the needs of a growing population?

As Australia’s most populous city continues to expand, public transport will become key to linking Sydney’s inhabitants to jobs and infrastructure while reducing traffic congestion.

According to a draft regional plan launched by the Greater Sydney Commission (GSC), the metropolis will need to evolve into three connected cities linked by new public transport. The GSC stated this will provide more communities with access to job opportunities, homes and services within a manageable 30-minute commute radius.

“Reshaping Greater Sydney as a metropolis of three cities – the Western Parkland City, Central River City and Eastern Harbour City – will rebalance it, fostering jobs, improving housing choice and affordability, easing congestion and enhancing our enviable natural environment across the entire region,” said GSC Chief Commissioner Lucy Turnbull.

One of the new cities will emerge west of the M7, where Turnbull anticipates that tens of thousands of jobs will be provided by the new Western Sydney Airport and surrounding services and businesses. She also said that young people growing up in the west of Sydney will have access to more opportunities as Penrith, Liverpool and Campbelltown become university towns.

Turnbull said that the draft plans were the first land use and transport strategies to be developed concurrently and in collaboration with “thousands of Sydneysiders”.

NSW Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance stressed the need for planning and transport to work together to deliver the best outcomes.

“While we’re building the transport solutions of tomorrow right now, we can’t ignore the future. That’s why we’re not only focussing on the next few years, but the next 40,” he said.

“The release of our Future Transport 2056 strategy, together with the blueprint developed by the Greater Sydney Commission, means new communities can be connected within 30 minutes at a time when more people want to call Sydney home. The plans will ultimately work together, so as Sydney grows, so too does the transport network.”

According to NSW Minister for Planning and Housing Anthony Roberts, Sydney’s continued growth and success requires a “transformative” approach to city planning if it is to fulfil its destiny of becoming one of world’s top 10 cities with a population of 8 million people by 2056.

“We need these plans to ensure we deliver the housing, jobs, transport services, schools and medical facilities Sydneysiders will need,” he said.

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Nadine Cranenburgh is an electrical engineer with postgraduate qualifications in environmental engineering, and professional writing and editing. She works as a freelance writer and editor specialising in complex topics that draw on her experience in the engineering, local government, defence and environment industries.

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